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[[Image:JimCrow.gif|thumb|minstrel character "Jim Crow"]]

[[Image:JimCrow.gif|thumb|Minstrel character "Jim Crow"]]

'''Jim Crow''' was the system of racial segregation in the Southern U.S. from the 1880s to 1964 in which [[African American]]s were segregated (separated) in [[public school]]s and public places, so that they could not mingle in public with whites on equal terms. In addition to segregation, Jim Crow also assured that blacks had little or no political power. It was a low point in [[Black history]] after the euphoria of [[Reconstruction]].  

'''Jim Crow''' was the system of racial segregation in the Southern U.S. from the 1880s to 1964 in which [[African American]]s were segregated (separated) in [[public school]]s and public places, so that they could not mingle in public with whites on equal terms. In addition to segregation, Jim Crow also assured that blacks had little or no political power. It was a low point in [[Black history]] after the euphoria of [[Reconstruction]].  

==Twentieth century==

==Twentieth century==

In the 20th century, the Supreme Court began to overturn a few Jim Crow laws on constitutional grounds. In ''[[Buchanan v. Warley]]'' 245 US 60 (1917), the court held that Kentucky could not require residential segregation. The Supreme Court in 1946, in ''Irene Morgan v. Virginia'' ruled segregation in interstate transportation to be unconstitutional, though its reasoning stemmed from the [[commerce clause]] of the Constitution rather than any moral objection to the practice. The impact of these Court decisions was small, but they set the legal basis for the major breakthrough in 1954.

In the 20th century, the Supreme Court began to overturn a few Jim Crow laws on constitutional grounds. In ''[[Buchanan v. Warley]]'' 245 US 60 (1917), the court held that Kentucky could not require residential segregation. The Supreme Court in 1946, in ''Irene Morgan v. Virginia'' ruled segregation in interstate transportation to be unconstitutional, though its reasoning stemmed from the [[commerce clause]] of the Constitution rather than any moral objection to the practice. The impact of these Court decisions was small, but they set the legal basis for the major breakthrough in 1954.

[[File:Jimcrow1.jpg|thumb|375px|Cafe in Durham, North Carolina, 1940. with separate doors and seating for "White" and for "Colored." Most restaurants and theaters in theSouth had separate seating sections.  Jack Delano, [[FSA]] photographer]]

[[File:Jimcrow1.jpg|thumb|375px|Cafe in Durham, North Carolina, 1940. with separate doors and seating for "White" and for "Colored." Most restaurants and theaters in theSouth had separate seating sections.  Jack Delano, [[FSA]] photographer]]

Besides state laws that compelled segregation of the races, private organizations were almost wholly segregated in the South.  

Besides state laws that compelled segregation of the races, private organizations were almost wholly segregated in the South.  

===Informal segregation===

===Informal segregation===

Most clubs and labior unions in the North excluded blacks--not on the basis of state law but on the basis of their own rules and traditions.  Blacks could not buy houses in certain neighborhoods, nor join labor unions that controlled access to many skilled trades.   

Most clubs and labior unions in the North excluded blacks--not on the basis of state law but on the basis of their own rules and traditions.  Blacks could not buy houses in certain neighborhoods, nor join labor unions that controlled access to many skilled trades.   

===End of ''de jure'' segregation===

===End of ''de jure'' segregation===

In January, 1964, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] met with civil rights leaders. Johnson had long disliked Jim Crow, and now had the votes in Congress to end it. In his first State of the Union address in January 1964, Johnson asked Congress to "let this session of Congress be known as the session which did more for civil rights than the last hundred sessions combined."  Johnson mobilized support from northern members of Congress of both parties, with strong grass roots support from Protestant churches, liberal labor unions, and civil rights activists.  Support was increased by a flow of negative publicity from the South, such as the murder of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi. On July 2, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In January, 1964, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] met with civil rights leaders. Johnson had long disliked Jim Crow, and now had the votes in Congress to end it. In his first State of the Union address in January 1964, Johnson asked Congress to "let this session of Congress be known as the session which did more for civil rights than the last hundred sessions combined."  Johnson mobilized support from northern members of Congress of both parties, with strong grass roots support from Protestant churches, liberal labor unions, and civil rights activists.  Support was increased by a flow of negative publicity from the South, such as the murder of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi. On July 2, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

==Origins of imagery==

==Origins of imagery==